… about Cape Horn and Antarctica, on Sonabia and Sonabia 2.
If you are seriously interested in an Antarctic expedition on Sonabia 2, we will send you a document containing detailed information.
Do I need sailing experience ?
It is not necessary.
However, if you want to participate to the maneuvers or the navigation, the skipper will assign you tasks adapted to your abilities.
My health?
You must have good physical health. For Antarctica you also need mental and emotional stability, in order to cope with the navigation across the Drake and the ubiquitous ice in Antarctica.
There will be a preliminary screening, based on a questionnaire and discussions with the skipper.
The screening is less tight for Cape Horn, because it is only a few navigation days, always close to the land.
My age?
Not important. We rounded Cape Horn with crews over 80 years old as well as younger than 18 years old. We had wonderful sailing in Antarctica with persons above 75.
However, anybody must be healthy, see above.
Sea sickness?
It occurs, even for experienced sailors. It happens in the Drake Passage as well as during Cape Horn sailing . On the contrary you won´t be sea sick in Antarctica.
There are means to prevent or delay seasickness. We will explain them when you come aboard.
The scopolamine patches seem to work for 100% of the people. For the rest of the methods, I never saw anything that works 100%.
Safety?
The boat is robust and well tested, and the safety equipment is complete. More important, the crew knows the job and has experience. This is the most important factor to prevent accidents.
Sonabia 2 is nicknamed “the grey tank”. Although relatively small and lightweight in comparison with other Antarctic sail boats, its thick, impact-proof hull, its lifting steel keel and its lifting rudders minimize the risks.
Are the dates guaranteed?
No. However if we agreed on an expedition, it is guaranteed. We sail no matter what happens.
The starting date is from the agreed date as soon as the weather permits.
The arrival date takes into account both your return trip and the weather.
Since 2015-2016 nobody lost his/her return trip. However, sometimes this obliges us to cross the Drake in advance to avoid long lasting bad weather.
If you want to enjoy fully the expedition, arrive on board at least 2 days before the departure date, and book a return trip with open dates or with a large safety margin.
Antarctica AND Cape Horn?
The Cape Horn is not on the direct route towards Antarctica, it lays 25 nautical miles (46km) west. However, it is possible to sail close to Horn Island or even to round the Cape under two conditions
– We stop in Puerto Williams which allows us to sail in Chilean internal waters and to sail in the Drake at a distance lower than two miles from the Cape
– There is a weather window to do so. FYI, in the last two trips it was not possible to reach Cape Horn.
Why are there so few photos and videos on this site?
Because what you will live in Antarctica exceeds whatever we could show you.
Also, this web site goes straight to the point, and multimedia stuff is just advertising. If you want beautiful pictures, see those of Carlos Guevara Vivanco
gvivanco.com/fotos/, Antarctica 2023.
Why is there nothing about the crew?
For privacy concern. No photos and no personal information on the web.
In addition, the pictures of the crew members with big smiles do not tell you how you will coexist during several weeks (or days, for Cape Horn)
Contact us directly to find out who we are. We can send you references, navigation titles, etc. on demand.
